Tom Glavine vs Sandy Koufax: Career Stats Comparison
Tom Glavine and Sandy Koufax are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Tom Glavine played 1987–2008 as a pitcher; Sandy Koufax played 1955–1966 as a pitcher.
- ERA (Earned Run Average):
- Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.
- W (Wins):
- Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
- SO (Strikeouts):
- For a batter, times retired on a third strike; for a pitcher, batters retired on a third strike.
- WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched):
- Baserunners allowed per inning: (BB + H) ÷ IP. Under 1.00 is elite.
Data updated
Tom Glavine (1987–2008) and Sandy Koufax (1955–1966) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1950s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Tom Glavine finished with 305 wins and 2,607 strikeouts; Sandy Koufax finished with 165 wins and 2,396 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Sandy Koufax, with 2.76 to Tom Glavine's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Tom Glavine, with 305 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Tom Glavine, with 2,607 to Sandy Koufax's 2,396.
- Who had the better WHIP? Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Tom Glavine's 1.31.
- Who pitched more innings? Tom Glavine, with 4,413.1 to Sandy Koufax's 2,324.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Sandy Koufax, with 40 to Tom Glavine's 25.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Sandy Koufax, with 63,020 career Pitcher PIV to Tom Glavine's 40,421.
Tom Glavine
Sandy Koufax
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate. Cells highlighted in green mark the player who leads that line. Lower ERA, WHIP and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads. 12 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 4 are counting totals on which fewer is not an achievement, so no one is awarded them. Totals where fewer is not an achievement -- losses, walks and hits allowed -- are left unmarked, because they track how long someone pitched rather than how well. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, and the 1980s and the 1950s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Tom Glavine | Sandy Koufax |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 305 | 165 |
| Losses not scored | 203 | 87 |
| Games | Leads: 682 | 397 |
| Games Started | Leads: 682 | 314 |
| Complete Games | 56 | Leads: 137 |
| Shutouts | 25 | Leads: 40 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 9 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,607 | 2,396 |
| Walks not scored | 1,500 | 817 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,298 | 1,754 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 356 | 204 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,413.1 | 2,324.1 |
| ERA | 3.54 | Leads: 2.76 |
| WHIP | 1.31 | Leads: 1.11 |
| K/9 | 5.32 | Leads: 9.28 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 3.06 | 3.16 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Sandy Koufax outpaces Tom Glavine 63,020 to 40,421 — driven by per-season impact — 5,252 PIV per season to 1,837 — rather than by longevity, since Sandy Koufax played 12 seasons to Tom Glavine's 22. PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
PIV is computed through the 2025 season. The career totals on this page include 2026 to date, so PIV does not yet reflect the 2026 season.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Tom Glavine — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Sandy Koufax — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Sandy Koufax leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Tom Glavine owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Sandy Koufax. PIV agrees: Sandy Koufax grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Tom Glavine and Sandy Koufax careers compare
No season is shared: Sandy Koufax played 1955–1966, Tom Glavine 1987–2008. Tom Glavine has the far longer record, 682 games against 397 across 22 and 12 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. By rate, Tom Glavine struck out 5.32 and walked 3.06 per nine innings; Sandy Koufax struck out 9.28 and walked 3.16. Tom Glavine was mainly a starter (682 starts in 682 games), and Sandy Koufax was mainly a starter (314 starts in 397 games). In WHIP, Sandy Koufax's 1.11 beats Tom Glavine's 1.31. Best seasons: 1998 for Tom Glavine (2.47 ERA, 20-6, 157 K in 229 IP) and 1966 for Sandy Koufax (1.73 ERA, 27-9, 317 K in 323 IP).
Tom Glavine vs Sandy Koufax: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Sandy Koufax, with 2.76 to Tom Glavine's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Tom Glavine, with 305 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Tom Glavine, with 2,607 to Sandy Koufax's 2,396.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Tom Glavine's 1.31.